Christmas Meme

I found this floating around on my blog from a few years back and felt like sharing, because it is the season...a fun Christmas meme.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? 

I love wrapping gifts with all the possible ribbons and bows, but am also a sucker for a nifty gift bag!

2. Real tree or Artificial? 

We are a fake tree household - Dave and Davina rock our socks.  I do love the smell of a real tree, and in a later season of life we'll no doubt do a 'real' tree at least once.

3. When do you put up the tree? 

November 25th, put up to a soundtrack of Christmas songs, drinking mulled wine and eating mince pies.

4. When do you take the tree down? 

On January 6th (sometimes the day before) as tradition dictates.

5. Do you like eggnog? 

I have never tried it!

6. Favorite (or most memorable) gift received as a child? 

My Raleigh Bluebird bike!

7. Hardest person to buy for? 

Matthew's lovely mum.

8. Easiest person/s to buy for? 

Matthew, the niecelet, and my best girls.  Such fun!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? 

Yes - I love it, and remembering what all this hoopla is really about.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? 

Mail if at all possible & I also try to check in by email too, it's a lovely time of year to catch up with folk!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? 

Surely it's a little churlish to complain about gifts?  Anything sincerely given is a treat!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? 

So many to choose from! The Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf, It's A Wonderful Life, Love Actually, Die Hard, Home Alone...

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? 

If I see nice things earlier in the year I'll pick them up, other than that it's probably from October, giftwise. Food happens mid-December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? 

Not in a regift way, although I have passed on things I can't or don't use to friends or siblings (par example things I don't eat or drink, earrings I can't wear (ears not pierced), or books and suchlike which are duplicates).

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? 

Turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce sandwiches. Nom nom nom!

16. What do you want for Christmas? 

Sweet, sweet nourishing sleep.  And some perfume.

17. Favorite Christmas song? 

O Holy Night, Once In Royal David's City, Christmas Wrapping, Fairytale of New York, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and many others...

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? 

We do Christmas in London each year - this will be our fifth!  We always endeavour to go and see family too though - we went to Scotland last weekend and are just back from the north-east yesterday.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? 

Dasher, Donner, Blitzen, Prancer, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Vixen, Rudolph. Yeah!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? 

Star on Dave, bow on Davina.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? 

Christmas morning is stockings as we eat bacon rolls and drink bucks fizz.  Once the dinner is on and we are showered and dressed we hit the presents from others.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? 

You are asking the wrong person!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? 

Red/green/gold, with a splash of silver or white. I'm a traditional kind of girl.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? 

Turkey and all the trimmings, please.

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year? 

Please see question 16.

Two sleeps, people!

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Christmas music meme!

I love whenever I get a chance to do this meme - I love chatting about music, sharing music and enjoying music, so this lyrics game is always a favourite of mine. Surrounded as I am by marking, deadlines and Christmas cards on this Sunday evening (praise heaven for scheduled posts!), I thought I'd post this up for your Monday entertainment.

The rules:

Step 1: Put your music player on shuffle.
Step 2: Post the first line (or a few ;)) from the first 30 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing.
Step 3: Italicise the lyrics and post the details when someone guesses both artist and track correctly.
Step 4: For those who are guessing -- looking the lyrics up on a search engine is CHEATING!
Step 5: If you like the game post your own

I've actually been cheeky and have just done ten songs - because so many of them start with their title as their first line, haha!  I think as people guess them I'll add links or videos of the guessed songs :)

1. Bah humbug, but that's too strong,
For it is my favourite holiday

2. Christmas angels sing all around us
Spread good tidings over the earth

3. It was Christmas Eve, babe,
In the drunk tank

4. Jesus our brother, strong and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude

5. It's Christmas time,
There's no need to be afraid

6. You know Christmas was made for the children
Destiny's children, 2G Christmas, Destiny's child

7. Christmas night, another fight
Tears, we cried a flood

8. Mary did you know that your baby boy would some day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

9.  You better watch out, you better not cry,
You better not pout, I'm telling you why,

10. Teenage girl, much too young 
Unprepared for what's to come

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411

I've seen these questions doing the rounds online, so I thought I'd join in.  The lovely Ashley is the most recent set of answers I've seen - love her sweet blog!

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed? 

I have been blogging since the tail end of 2005 (wow.  That's quite a long time!).  A lot of things have changed since then, but much of my blog is similar - I write about my life, the people I love, and the things I enjoy!

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study? 

Yes, twice!  I read for an MA (Hons) in English & Film Studies at the University of Aberdeen.  I loved university and made some terrific friends there.  I also got to do lots of musical theatre, which was a dream come true!  A year and a bit after that I went to Durham University to study for my PGCE (Primary Education).  Another fantastic experience, more wonderful people, and I got to enjoy the college system too (St Chad's FTW!).

3. Where have you traveled?

A fair few places!  All over the British mainland, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, the Canaries, the US.  Once Matthew and I have paid down some more on the house and I've finished my big attack on the student loans (as I was a maximum-loan kid over four years, there is a LOT to pay back!) I hope to do lots more travelling in Europe.  This year and next year I get to go to Austria for the first and second times as we get ready for and then celebrate the marriage of Eileen and Rory.  And I am longing to visit Christy, Ashley, Jenna, Amber, Jamie, Alexandra, Caroline and my grandma over the pond before long.

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?

First things first, I'd pay off our house, our parents homes, and buy houses for Nick & Elly, Sian & Chris, and Peter.  Then I'd put 65% of the rest in investments, 25% to charity (I'd hope to build on this as investments came good), and would spend 10% helping/spoiling my friends and family.  What a treat that would be!

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

Spitting.  Lord, how it gives me the rage.  There are a lot of people who spit in Leyton. :(

Rudeness, and poor customer service.  I've worked in retail etc and was always polite and helpful (even when customers were VERY rude), but lately I've had some extremely bad experiences.  A lady whose company failed to send out two items in a order, which was already five days late, snapped at me on the phone yesterday.  Bizarre, and a great way to lose my custom, frankly.  Love great customer service though, and love to tip/write letters to managers. :)

Horrid blog comments.  Constructive criticism, fine.  All out rudeness?  Not so fine!

6. What is your favorite movie?

Oh, hard to say.  Maybe When Harry Met Sally?

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?

I'm drinking alcohol a lot less now (expensive + calorific!), but I do like a glass of crisp Sauv Blanc, or a Kwak, or a JD and coke from time to time.  Most of the time I'd rather have a nice cup of tea though!  And I drink gallons of water!

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?

Reading, writing letters, baking, curling up in front of a movie, knitting, crafting.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?

Totally have to copy Ashley here - Amazon!  Or maybe notonthehighstreet.com

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.

There was a girl I met during freshers week at university whose name I didn't know for eighteen months (we'd originally met in a bar with loud music, and I had missed her name).  Cue many 'heys' and 'hi, sweeties' as I just didn't know her name.  I managed to do three group projects with her before I actually learned her (very pretty) name - Madealine!

11. What day would you love to relive again?

I'd love to be on stage in our university production of Anything Goes again.  I loved the feeling of control and completeness, of having my moment in the spotlight.  It's nice to remember when I'm up late grading papers or cleaning out kitty litter!

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?

I can't think of a single actress who looks like me!

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?

I worked in a greengrocers, was a babysitter, worked at church kids' groups, waitressed, was a receptionist, worked in a show store, day nannied, au paired and was a special needs carer.

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

I don't have any on this computer :(.  Ah, the joys of growing up in the pre-digital camera age!

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

New York.

16. Show us the most current picture of you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you.

Kittehs and Matthew. #lifeisgood  #luckygirl

Poppet.

Fry.

Leela.

Love :)

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?

Very hard to say.  I hope I'm happy.  I hope I'm making people happy.  I hope it's a life full of laughter and cats and silliness and fun.

Oh, and naps.

 

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99 Things

The lovely Ashley shared this on her blog - I thought I'd do the same!  99 things, you just put in bold/underline the items which apply to you. I'm not sure I'd want to do everything on the list, but some are groovy things to aim for!  I reached 35 - how about you?

 

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii


5. Watched a meteor shower


6. Given more than you can afford to charity


7. Been to Disneyland


8. Climbed a mountain


9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo


11. Bungee jumped


12. Visited Paris


13. Watched a lightning storm


14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning


17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty


18. Grown your own vegetables


19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France


  20. Slept on an overnight train


21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort


25. Held a lamb


26. Gone skinny dipping


27. Run a Marathon


28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice


  29. Seen a total eclipse


30. Watched a sunrise or sunset


  31. Hit a home run


32. Been on a cruise


  33. Seen Niagara Falls in person


34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors


35. Seen an Amish community


36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person


  39. Gone rock climbing 


40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt


  43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant


44. Visited Africa


45. Walked on a beach by moonlight


46. Been transported in an ambulance


47. Had your portrait painted


48. Gone deep sea fishing

 
 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person


  50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling


  52. Kissed in the rain


  53. Played in the mud


54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

 
 56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business


58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen


61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies


62. Gone whale watching


63. Got flowers for no reason


64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma


65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy


  70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt


73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades


75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person


80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican


  82. Bought a brand new car


83. Walked in Jerusalem


84. Had your picture in the newspaper

  85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House


  87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating


88. Had chickenpox


  89. Saved someone’s life


90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby


95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit


98. Owned a cell phone


99. Been stung by a bee

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